2ND LT CHARLES W. WILSON
sn# 0-526414 |
P |
CPT |
15 APR 45 |
ROYAN |
2ND LT JAMES M. HARBISON
sn# 0-775881 |
CP |
CPT |
4 APR 45 |
KIEL
Took over Lt Dewey Crew |
| F/O JACK BERKOWITZ |
NAV |
POW |
31 DEC 44 |
HAMBURG
With MacNAB Crew |
2ND LT RAYMOND E. COMER, JR
sn# 0-777438 |
BOM |
POW |
31 DEC 44 |
HAMBURG
With MacNab Crew |
CPL EMERY N. CASTLE
sn# 37523614 |
ROG |
NOC |
-- |
-- |
CPL NORMAN G. NANCE
sn# 19171578 |
TTE |
NOC |
-- |
-- |
CPL JAY D. KENDELL
sn# 39908662 |
BTG |
NOC |
-- |
-- |
CPL GEORGE L. PESLER
sn# 35051164 |
WG |
CPT |
24 MAR 45 |
STEENEIJK / ZIEGENHAINE |
CPL ARCHIE E. HOFFPAUIR
sn# 38266722 |
WG |
NOC |
-- |
-- |
CPL JACK R. DeBORDE
sn# 39615579 |
TG |
NOC |
-- |
See mission list below |
350th Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on
29 Sep 44. See S. O. C. pg. 88/ 89 & pg 92 of "CONTRAILS". (See MEMO
below)
MEMO:
CHARLES W. "HONG KONG" WILSON
LEGENDARY 100TH PILOT KNOWN TO ALL 100TH VETERANS AS "HONG KONG",
DENOTING THE FACT HE WAS A PILOT FOR PHILIPPINE AIRLINES. JOINED THE 100TH
IN SEPTEMBER 1944 AND REMAINED UNTIL THE END OF HOSTILITIES. FLEW A B17G
BACK TO THE STATES 2 JUN 45. HE IS REMEMBERED BY THE FRENCH FOR FLYING
FRENCH UNDERGROUND PERSONNEL FROM CAPTIVITY AT LINZ, AUSTRIA TO THEIR
HOMELAND ON 19 MAY 45.
IN THE FIFTIES "HONG KONG" WAS HONORED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
NETHERLANDS FOR PARTICIPATING IN OPERATION CHOW HOUND, THE AIRDROPPING OF
FOOD SUPPLIES TO THE DUTCH POPULATION IN EARLY MAY1945.
LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE 100TH BOMB GROUP FOUNDATION. HE HAS SERVED THE
FOUNDATION IN SEVERAL OFFICES OVER MANY YEARS. "HONG KONG" WILSON IS ONE
OF THE 100TH BEST KNOWN VETERANS AND IS HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM BY THE MEMBERS
OF THE 100TH. HIS MISSION LOG, WHICH INCLUDES THE TOUGH TARGETS OF
HAMBURG, BERLIN, MERSEBURG, RUHLAND AND OTHERS FOLLOWS:
MISSION LOG:
| NBR |
DATE |
TARGET |
COMMENT |
| 01 |
15OCT 44 |
COLOGNE |
-- |
| 02 |
17OCT 44 |
COLOGNE |
-- |
| 03 |
19OCT 44 |
LUDWIGSHAVEN & MANNHEIN |
OIL REFINERY |
| 04 |
26 OCT 44 |
HANOVER & MITBURG |
TANK WORKS |
| 05 |
30 OCT 44 |
MERSEBURG |
(RECALLED/ WEATHER) |
| 06 |
02 N0V 44 |
MERSEBURG |
OIL REFINERY |
| 07 |
24 DEC 44 |
BABENHAUSEN, KAISERLATUERN |
-- |
| 08 |
31 DEC 44 |
HAMBURG |
-- |
| 09 |
20 JAN 45 |
HEIBRON
MARSHALLING YARDS (ST) |
LT WILSON TAKES OVER
LT FOWLER CREW |
| 10 |
28 JAN 45 |
DUISBURG |
BRIDGE |
| 11 |
3 FEB 45 |
BERLIN |
CITY |
| 12 |
6 FEB 45 |
CHEMNITZ & ZWICKAU |
TOWNS |
| 13 |
14 FEB 45 |
CHEMNITZ |
CITY (100TH "A" & "B" GROUPS |
| 14 |
20 FEB 45 |
NURNBURG |
CITY |
| 15 |
21 FEB 45 |
NURNBURG |
MARSHALLING YARDS
(SECONDARY TARGET) |
| 16 |
22 FEB 45 |
DONAUESCHINGEN |
TOWN |
| 17 |
24 FEB 45 |
BREMEN |
RAIL BRIDGE |
| 18 |
26 FEB 45 |
BERLIN |
CITY |
| 19 |
3 MAR 45 |
BRUNSWICK |
MT FACTORY |
| 20 |
4 MAR 45 |
ULM |
MARSHALLING YARD
(SECONDARY TARGET) |
| 21 |
17 MAR 45 |
RUHLAND & PLAUEN |
-- |
| 22 |
19 MAR 45 |
FULDA, LUTZKENDORF, & JENNA |
-- |
| 23 |
21 MAR 45 |
RUHLAND & PLAUEN |
LT WILSON LAST MISSION
WITH LT FOWLER CREW |
| 24 |
22 MAR 45 |
ALHORN |
AIR FIELD |
| 25 |
23 MAR 45 |
MARBURG & UNNA |
-- |
| 26 |
24 MAR 45 |
STEENWIJK/HAVELTE & ZIEGENHAIN |
-- |
| 27 |
07 APR 45 |
BUCHEN |
OIL STORAGE |
| 28 |
15 APR 45 |
ROYAN |
GROUND DEFENSES |
MISSION MEMORIES OF LT HARBISON (mpf 2003):
19 NOV 44 OBSERVED MY 21ST BIRTHDAY BOMBING LUDWIGSHAVEN, GER. TOLD
BROTHER WHO CAME TO VISIT FROM NEAR BY 96TH BG TODAY. I AM A MAN (LEGAL
AGE) HE THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY.
31 DEC 44 HAMBURG-WAS ORDERED TO BE FORWARD CONTOL OFFICER (FORMATION
OFFICER-mpf 2003) GLORIFIED TAIL GUNNER. SEEMS THEY HAD A RULE THAT 8TH AF
LEAD PLANES HAD TO HAVE A COMMISSIONED OFFICER-PILOT IN THE TAIL TO TALK
TO THE GENERAL (COMMAND PILOT). A NON-COM WOULDN'T DO EVEN IF MORE
EXPERIENCED
AT VIEW FROM THE TAIL. RECEIVED CREDIT FOR FW190-I GUESS ONE OF A FEW
B-17 PILOTS GETTING A FIGHTER KILL.
20 FEB 45 NURNBURG- FIRST MISSION AS FIRST PILOT
ONE TRIP TOOK A ROUTE OVER THE ALPS, THEY WERE COVERED WITH SNOW.
BEAUTIFUL BUT COLD. TEMPERATURE IN THE PLANE WAS MINUS 68 DEGREES F. I GOT
A MILD CASE OF FROST BITE ON MY FEET-HEATED SUIT NOT TOO WARM. ANOTHER
TRIP TOOK FLAK IN #2 ENGINE. BEGAN BURNING, FEATHERED ENGINE, FIRE TAPERED
OFF, STILL SCARY. OIL QUIT PUMPING. DOVE & THE OIL FIRE WENT OUT. CAME
HOME ON THE DECK (3 ENGINES). GUNNERS SHOT AT TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY.
ON AN EARLY MISSION, WHILE STILL A COPILOT FOR CHAS (HONG KONG) WILSON,
A 500 LB BOMB HUNG UP AND CHAS SENT ENGINEER GUNNER BACK-DIDN'T GET IT
OUT. SENT BOMBARDIER BACK-NO LUCK EITHER, SO CHAS SENT ME BACK TO TRY. I
WAS ABLE TO KICK IT LOOSE. CHAS TRIED TOO GET ME A COMMENDATION BUT IT
MUST HAVE BEEN A COMMON HAPPENING-NO ONE THOUGHT THAT MUCH ABOUT IT"
Form submission from 100thbg.com (April 2002):
subject = 100thBG Question Submission
uname = Wally P. Fydenchuk
Comments = I’m researching U. S. Citizens who enlisted in the RCAF prior
to Pearl Harbor. As your website lists, Lt Charlie Wilson, Lt Robert
Pearson and Capt. Richard Carey, were ex RCAF Americans. Capt. Mark
Carnell was another ex RCAF member. His RCAF service number was C 6873. He
was a staff pilot at #4 Wireless School. He transferred to the USAAF May
1942.
Email note from Charlie "HongKong" Wilson (April 2002):
Subj: hi mike
Date: 4/7/2002 1:46:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: WILSON
"I flew about 10 missions with the Billy Bittle crew (Nav. Lt Fowler
Crew) then they made me lead crew and I flew Captain with various crews.
Also flew as a so-called Command-pilot, the rest of my tour, which was at
war's end. Flew a B-17 home as I was scared of water - got my job in the
Philippine Air Lines on this trip.
On arrival Thorpe Abbotts I had 1800 plus hours in many types of WW 11
aircraft. Checked out as a fort Capt. when I was a Sgt/pilot at Sebring,
Fla. Didn’t know what to say to the General that checked me out. Just
"Gear-up" Sir"!
After the Plauen Raid (Mar 21, 1945), I flew Lead or Command to Alhorn,
UNNA, Steenwijk, Buchen, Point de Gaule and one other. Also several trips
to bring back French POWs to Paris. Also show where I flew an L-4 around
England. "
Cheers,
Hongkong
Lt. George S. Fowler Crew:
|
1st Lt George S. Fowler |
P |
FEH |
|
2nd Lt Harry F. McKnight |
CP |
FEH |
|
1st Lt Billy M. Bittle, Jr. |
NAV |
FEH |
|
F/0 Arnold L. Wimer |
BOM |
FEH |
|
Cpl Reuben W. Erickson |
ROG |
FEH |
|
Cpl Neil J. Norfolk |
WG |
FEH |
|
Cpl Robert J. Kennedy |
BTG |
FEH |
|
Cpl John G. Marlowe |
TG |
FEH |
| Cpl James M. McCullough |
TTE |
FEH |
350th Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on
24/12/44. T/Sgt James M. McCullough, SN# 35625702. Flew with both the
350th and 349th Squadrons.
Missions of T/Sgt James McCullough (mpf) along with
comments:
| Nbr |
Date |
Target |
Remarks |
| 01 |
07/01/45 |
Cologne |
-- |
| 02 |
14/01/45 |
Derben |
After the second mission with this
crew, 1st Lt. Fowler was grounded and replaced by Lt Charles "Hong
Kong" Wilson |
| 03 |
20/01/45 |
Heibron |
-- |
| 04 |
28/01/45 |
Duisberg |
-- |
| 05 |
03/02/45 |
Berlin |
A Toughie-over 9 hours in the air,
no flak till target then all hell broke loose-plane on our left had
its left wing blown off--Lost Rosie and Marty-blew hell out of the
center of Berlin. Lots of holes in ship-plenty lucky. |
| 06 |
06/02/45 |
Chemnitz |
-- |
| 07 |
14/02/45 |
Chemnitz |
-- |
| 08 |
20/02/45 |
Nurnburg |
-- |
| 09 |
21/02/45 |
Nurnburg |
-- |
| 10 |
22/02/45 |
Donaueschingen |
-- |
| 11 |
24/02/45 |
Bremen |
-- |
| 12 |
26/02/45 |
Berlin |
-- |
| 13 |
03/03/45 |
Brunswick |
-- |
| 14 |
04/03/45 |
Ulm |
-- |
| 15 |
17/03/45 |
Plauen |
-- |
| 16 |
19/03/45 |
Jena |
-- |
| 17 |
21/03/45 |
Plauen |
Hit Dead Center-not much
flak-fighters hit us twice ME262' came to damn close-15 ft over the
ship-got our two wingmen-we didn’t get them-damnit-rough mission.
|
Lt Charles Wilson leaves crew at this point and T/Sgt
James McCullough is transferred to 349th Sqdn Crew of
2nd Lt Joe King.
MISSIONS OF S/SGT
JACK DEBORDE:
| Date |
Target / Remarks |
| 15 OCT 44
|
COLOGNE |
| 17 OCT 44
|
COLOGNE |
| 19 OCT 44
|
LUDWIGSHAVEN & MANNHEIN, OIL
REFINERY |
| 26 OCT 44
|
HANOVER, TANK WRKS & MITBURG |
| 30 OCT 44
|
MERSEBURG (RECALLED/
WEATHER) |
| 02 N0V 44
|
MERSEBURG, OIL REFINERY |
| 24 DEC 44
|
BABENHAUSEN, KAISERLAUTERN |
| 25 DEC 44
|
KAISERLAUTERN |
| 31 DEC 44
|
HAMBURG
Flying lead, high squadron with Maj Harry Cruver, Lt
Harbison was formation officer on this mission. |
| 06 JAN 45
|
ANNWEILER |
| 10 JAN 45
|
COLOGNE |
| 14 JAN 45
|
DERBEN |
| 28 JAN 45
|
DUISBURG
From this point on, flew with different 1st pilot since HK
was now pilot of Lt Fowler Crew (mpf 2003) |
| 03 FEB 45
|
BERLIN |
| 06 FEB 45
|
CHEMNITZ |
| 21 FEB 45
|
NURNBURG |
| 24 FEB 45
|
BREMEN |
| 26 FEB 45
|
BERLIN |
| 03 MAR 45
|
BRUNSWICK |
| 10 MAR 45
|
DORTMUND |
| 11 MAR 45
|
HAMBURG |
| 14 MAR 45
|
HANOVER |
| 17 MAR 45
|
PLAUEN |
| 19 MAR 45
|
JENA |
| 22 MAR 45
|
ALHORN |
| 28 MAR 45
|
HANOVER |
| 31 MAR 45
|
BAD BERKA |
| 09 APR 45
|
MUNICH |
| 15 APR 45
|
ROYAN |
| 17 APR 45
|
AUSSIG |
|
